Modding Alphacool Top for Laing DDC

[alo]

Hi All!

I'm going to buy a Laing DDC-1T pump with an Alphacool top. I've seen some messages that drilling the inlet bore from it's default ~7mm diameter to ~10mm gives a bit better flow rate.

Is it true? Can someone advice whether it is worth doing or I'll just spoil my pump?

Thanks!

[KaptCrunch]

yes gain a little more flow but you loose some headpressure also more load on motor.

[alo]

KaptCrunch, I'm buying a 10W version, so I'm not afraid of higher motor load.

My future loop is in my signature. What is your opinion, should I mod my top or not?

[Snyxxx]

yes gain a little more flow but you loose some headpressure also more load on motor.

Really? I thought the outlet size was responsible for head pressure. Remember the difference between Radiical and Alphacool top outlet sizes versus pressure.

[alo]

Hm... This becomes interesting!
If I don't loose head pressure and gain some more flow, then it turns out to be a must have mod!

Waiting for more comments...

[coolmiester]

I did some simple testing a while ago but i know that Martinm is working on a much more accurate head to head with many more tops which shouldn't be too far off now.

a] The Standard Alphacool top was left as standard (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/alphacool/alphacool_small.jpg)
b] The modded Alphacool top had the inlet drilled out to 11.8mm (http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/alphacool/alphacool_big.jpg) (NOT 10-10.5mm as Petra Used)
c] The Petra top was left as standard


My test results for Laing DDC1-Pro 10watt:
Alphacool Standard Plexi Top - 10.22 LPM (2.7 Gal./min.)
Modded Alphacool Plexi Top - 11.45 LPM - (3.02 Gal./min.)
Petras Delrin DDCT-01 Top - 11.12 LPM - (2.94 Gal./min.)

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/alphacool/petra_10watt.jpg



My test results for Laing DDC1-Plus Ultra 18watt:
Alphacool Standard Plexi Top - 12.6 LPM (3.32 Gal./min.)
Modded Alphacool Plexi Top - 13.8 LPM - (3.65 Gal./min.)
Petras Delrin DDCT-01 Top - 14 LPM - (3.7 Gal./min.)

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/alphacool/petra_18watt.jpg


As stated previously, i don't profess to being any kind of expert in this field or for that matter having the equipment as they might on other forums but these are my findings from a simple exercise that replicates set-ups used by many people on a day to day basis using a stop watch and a 5ltr container.

[alo]

coolmiester, thanks a lot!
It seems that for 10W DDC-1T modded Alphacool top is the best.

BTW, what did you have in your loop during testing? or it was just a pump and something like two vessels?

[alo]

Cool, according coolmiester's testing, modding the top on 10W DDC gives better result (12% gain) then even on 18W version (9.5%). And according to this Petra's tests (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1740220&postcount=1) 18W DDC is the best with the modded alphacool top.

So this mod seems really useful.

[coolmiester]

coolmiester, thanks a lot!
It seems that for 10W DDC-1T modded Alphacool top is the best.

BTW, what did you have in your loop during testing? or it was just a pump and something like two vessels?

Yeah just vessel to vessel, nothing else in the loop.

[Martinm210]

I would encourage chamfering the inlet side of the inlet port, but I would advise against opening it very much. Without spoiling all my fun and releasing the data (I'm writing as fast as I can), the best performing top had a smaller inlet size. It's just one of several features that made it work really well, but I would be really cautious about the inlet nozzle size.

I'm going to start some experiments around reducing the nozzle inlet size on some of the tops, many of them are simply too big for the DDC3.2. But not until after I've completed my DDC 3.2 top review, I have them all tested now, just working on the webpages.

The outlet is a different story, big and smooth, and free flowing is the name of the game there.

[Snyxxx]

The outlet is a different story, big and smooth, and free flowing is the name of the game there.

I thought the big problem with one of the first tops from Radiical was the outlet was too big in comparison to the only other option at the time which was the Alphacool. The head pressure was a lot better on the smaller outlet.

Maybe I am missing or forgetting something.

[SiGfever]

I would encourage chamfering the inlet side of the inlet port, but I would advise against opening it very much. Without spoiling all my fun and releasing the data (I'm writing as fast as I can), the best performing top had a smaller inlet size. It's just one of several features that made it work really well, but I would be really cautious about the inlet nozzle size.

I'm going to start some experiments around reducing the nozzle inlet size on some of the tops, many of them are simply too big for the DDC3.2. But not until after I've completed my DDC 3.2 top review, I have them all tested now, just working on the webpages.

The outlet is a different story, big and smooth, and free flowing is the name of the game there.
@Martin, tubing is in-route.
John

Apologies to OP.

[alo]

Ugh, I'm messed up with this...

Everything I could find on this forum before proved that it is better not to touch the outlet because it will cause the head pressure lose. But enlarging the inlet a bit (up to 9.5 - 10 mm) will give better flow....

But if I understand correctly, Martin says the opposite! I.e. enlarging the outlet is the way to go, and the best top had the smallest inlet diameter...

Or did I miss something?...

[coolmiester]

Ugh, I'm messed up with this...

Everything I could find on this forum before proved that it is better not to touch the outlet because it will cause the head pressure lose. But enlarging the inlet a bit (up to 9.5 - 10 mm) will give better flow....

But if I understand correctly, Martin says the opposite! I.e. enlarging the outlet is the way to go, and the best top had the smallest inlet diameter...

Or did I miss something?...

Me too, maybe Martin can shed some light on the situation.

[Der_KHAN]

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/images/alphacool/petra_18watt.jpg

wow, the the alphacool is twice as good with the modded top! :eek:


... no offense pal, but this kind of graph is worthless.

[coolmiester]

wow, the the alphacool is twice as good with the modded top! :eek:


... no offense pal, but this kind of graph is worthless.

No offence taken but maybe recheck the figures.

[alo]

Guys, peace! :toast: Don't argue!
Graphs are ok! :up: At least much better than nothing!

[coolmiester]

I was getting 3.32GPM where as Martin got 3.42GPM from the standard Alphacool Top so i'm not sure what Der_KHAN meant.

Remember the graph numbers are in LPM but i did translate to US Gallons.

I got 3.7GPM for Petras DDCT-01 Top where as Martin got 3.73GPM

[Anemone]

Ok this is getting interesting.

[alo]

Ok this is getting interesting.
Me too, maybe Martin can shed some light on the situation.

Yeah, Martin come back to us! ;)

[Der_KHAN]

Guys, peace! :toast: Don't argue!
Graphs are ok! :up: At least much better than nothing!I was getting 3.32GPM where as Martin got 3.42GPM from the standard Alphacool Top so i'm not sure what Der_KHAN meant.lol, im sorry. that was a completely o/t remark. :D

i just think that graphs should represent actual numbers. from the graph it looks like the modded alphacool top gets you twice as much flow. but if you look at the figures you see that it's just 10%. it's irritating and it reminds me of some ads where companies claim that their new product is way better then the old one because it's 0.001 percent faster, which you, the customer can see from their charts:

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6098/chartxt5.th.jpg (http://img260.imageshack.us/my.php?image=chartxt5.jpg)


but 10% from just modding the top is pretty neat after all. so back on topic now! :D

[Snyxxx]

I think Martin's own comments about the outlet size in this link seems to back-up my original comments about less head pressure with larger outlet size.

http://www.martinsliquidlab.com/DDC32PumpTopTesting.html

Right Martin?